Automatic stock-salting device.



P. & T. L. PBIPER. AUTOMATIG STOCK S'ALTING DEVICE.

APPLIGATION FILED MAR. 25, 1909.

Patented Feb. 8, 1910.

WITNESSES t I ATTORNEYS n rrnn STATIEs PAT FRANK PEIFER, 0F BEASON, AND THOMAS L. PEIFER, OF LINCOLN, ILLINOIS.

AUTOMATIC STOCK-SALTING DEVICE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FRANK PEIFER and THOMAS L. Pnnrnn, both citizens of the United States, and residents, respectively, of Beason and of Lincoln, in the county of Logan and State of Illinois, have jointly invented a new and Improved Automatic Stock-Salting Device, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a novel, simple device which may be secured on a suitable support, where access is afforded thereto for cattle and other animals, and which will permit the stock to obtain salt contained therein, without wasting the salt.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts, as is hereinafter described and defined in the appended claim.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both views.

Figure 1 is a side view of the improved salting device, and Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the same, seen in the direction of the arrow 00 in Fig. 1.

Stock, when housed, or running free in a field, need a limited supply of salt to maintain the animals in good condition. If placed in troughs mixed with feed, some of the animals prevent others from getting a proper amount of the salt so supplied to a herd of cattle.

By the employment of our improvement, free access is afforded to stock for obtaining a proper amount of salt, waste is prevented, and the salt is protected from the elements, so that it will remain in normal condition until the supply is exhausted.

Referring to the drawings that represent a preferred embodiment of our invention, 5 indicates a receptacle for salt, that is to be supplied for the use of stock. The receptacle 5 is preferably given cup shape, the wall of which is hemispherical, comprising a shell of metal that may be cast into form. Upon the exterior of the receptacle 5, at or near its peripheral upper edge a, a bracket flange 6 is formed, having a flat surface which may be secured upon a post A, or other fixture, that is at a convenient point for the effective service of the salting Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 25, 1909.

, Patented Feb. 8, 191d.

Serial No. 485,631.

device. Opposite the bracket flange 6, a lip 5 is formed on the edge a of the receptacle 5, said lip projecting forwardly a proper distance as shown in Fig. 1.

A cover piece 7 for the receptacle 5, and which forms a part thereof, is mounted on the upper edge of the part 5, said cover piece preferably having a similar form to that of the receptacle, so that when secured in place on said receptacle by screw bolts a, as shown in Fig. 2, the completed salt holder is substantially spherical in form. In the front wall of the cover piece 7, an opening is formed, the defining edge I) of which is substantially oval and is positioned above and near to the lip 5 as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2.

A hood 8 is a completing detail of the improvement, and as shown, consists of a segment of a spherical shell, having an area that will cover about one-half of the top surface of the top wall 7 of the salt receptacle. An ear 0 is formed at each of two opposite corners, where the rear transverse edge 61 of the hood 8 joins the lower defining edge 6 thereof, and through said ears opposite pivots g are inserted, that occupy alined perforations in the ears and the wall of the cover piece 7 near the lower edge of the latter. The hood 8 fits loosely upon the cover piece 7, except at its forward portion, where a lip 53 projects forwardly therefrom. The lip 8 is concaved on its lower side and its defining edge cut away, as at 72, in Fig. 1, thus affording an opening between the lips 5 and 8 The extension of the lip 8 forwardly adapts it to overweight the front edge of the hood, and thus cause said hood to automatically close and seal the opening 6 in the cover piece 7 when the hood is lifted and then released, so that it may seat on the cover piece.

The improvement when secured upon a support A, may receive a filling of salt, which will be exposed through the opening Z2 when the lip 8 is raised. The lip 5 being located below and forward of the opening Z), catches any particles of salt that may be dropped by accident from said opening, and the aroma of this small amount of salt thus exposed, will attract the stock and induce the animals to endeavor to get access to the salt in the receptacle.

A sufficient number of the improved salt holders are placed in a corral or open field Where stock range, to enable the cattle to obtain salt as their needs indicate.

In partaking of the salt, the animal raises the hood 8 by shoving its muzzle beneath the lip 8 which will rock the hood rearward until the transverse rear edge at of the hood impinges upon a lug 2' that projects from the rear side of the cover piece 7 a short distance above the lower edge thereof, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1, said lug preventing the hood from rocking too far rearward. The animal may now insert the tip of its tongue through the opening I) in the cover piece 7, and thus get a modicum of salt sufiicient for its wants. Upon withdrawal of its muzzle by the animal to masticate and swallow the salt, the hood 8 will close by its gravity, and thus protect the salt remaining in the receptacle from exposure to the elements.

Having thus described our invention, we

whereby it may be secured to a support, and

having a segment thereof at the front'removed, the lower edge of the shell being formed into a lip projecting beyond the shell, a hood pivoted on to the shell, the lower edge of the hood being formed into a lip projecting beyond the shell, said lips being spaced apart from each other for the purpose set forth, said hood having an excess weight adjacent to the lip for normally retaining it in closed position.

FRANK PEIFER. THOMAS L. PEIFER.

l/Vitnesses LEO THOMAS FITZGERALD, Brass THOMPSON. 

